La Cumbre is a pretty unremarkable space in an industrial part of town. It's easy to miss if you are not sure where to go. This is pretty standard with brewpubs, as brewing beer for the masses is kind of an industrial affair. I was there last Tuesday with the Albuquerque Road Runners and Hash House Harriers, we ran along the lovely North Diversion Channel bike path and I had a Noche La Paz after my run. It tasted pretty good. I found it to be strikingly similar although less "bold" (R's two cents!) than Marble Brewery's Dark Holiday. I drank it contentedly and went home.
I returned a couple days later for happy hour with R& J and tasted some more beers. I tried the Malpais Stout, the Pyramid Rock Pale Ale and the IPA whose name I forget at this time. I was not a fan of the IPA, but I've been in sort of a love-hate relationship with the genre ever since the Marble Fest where I drank way too much IPA 1000 in the hot September sun. I really liked the Pyramid Rock Pale ale and vowed to return for more with an empty growler... is there a more ringing endorsement?
On Friday I was back with my favorite stout friend for a quick pint and a growler fill. I'm glad to see the local spot hoppin', but couldn't find a seat at the bar. Before I could form a plan, there was a barkeep on the ready to fill my growler and take our order for pints. Going with a winner I ordered him a Malpais Stout (of course) and myself the Noche La Paz. he didn't like the stout, and we ended up trading. Lucky me!
I'm a big fan of this stout (7.0, pretty...um stout? for a stout) and not lacking on the effervescence. The crystal malt and the toffee...not too burned or too bitter or too chocolatey make this one a daily-drinkin stout, as opposed to a 1-and-done-cuz-I feel-like-I-just-ate-thanksgiving-dinner-in-a-glass stout.
